Developing ChatGPT-Like Models

Beijing, home to more than 1,000 artificial intelligence (AI) companies, will support leading enterprises to develop ChatGPT-like models, as part of the municipality’s broader efforts to be a pioneering AI hub.

The move comes as ChatGPT has taken the world by storm since its launch in November 2022 by US-based AI research company OpenAI, triggering an AI wave among startups and established companies alike.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology said in a white paper on 13 February that efforts will be made to support leading enterprises to build big AI models benchmarking ChatGPT, and focus on building an application ecosystem for open-source AI frameworks.

Beijing has more than 40,000 core AI-related talent, accounting for 60 percent of China’s total. The white paper also said Beijing will step up its push to accelerate the construction of a national AI innovation and application pilot zone, focusing on promoting applications such as autonomous driving, intelligent manufacturing and smart cities.

AFRICA Deepening Continental Integration

The 42nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) kicked off on 15 February with a call for increasing efforts to deepen continental integration and move towards realising Africa’s development aspirations.

The meeting, comprising foreign affairs ministers from AU member states, is being held from 15 to 16 February under the AU’s 2023 theme of The Year of AfCFTA: Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation.

Addressing the executive council, Chairperson of the AU Commission Mussa Faki Mahamat said the evaluation of the implementation of the first decade of the AU’s 50-year continental development Agenda 2063 has shown that Africa is moving forward, yet the continent has a long way to go. Faki called for continental efforts to strengthen the position of Africa at the multilateral level, and also to look at the shared values that can be better harnessed.

RWANDA Supporting Women Scientists

Rwanda on 10 February reaffirmed its commitment to supporting girls and women scientists as well as expanding access to education and training opportunities in science and technology during celebrations to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science which falls on 10 February.

“Science is a powerful tool that can help us understand and improve the world around us, and it is essential that women and girls have the opportunity to participate in this field and make their own contribution,” said Rwandan Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Jeannette Bayisenge.

The minister urged parents to overcome stereotypes and gender bias that often discourage women and girls from pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, careers.

CHINA!TOGO Food Assistance

The Chinese government on 14 February provided food assistance through the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Togo to support vulnerable populations in the country’s north.

The funding from China helped to acquire more than 600 tonnes of food produced in Togo, which will benefit 52,000 people in the Savanes and Kara regions, said Chao Weidong, Chinese ambassador to Togo, during the handover ceremony.

According to Aboubacar Koisha, the WFP representative, the emergency food assistance programme provided essential assistance to people in need and helped to restore a sense of hope and stability in the region and social cohesion within populations.

“Our combined efforts will make a real difference in the lives of those affected by food and nutrition crisis,” said Koisha.

The food assistance from China is part of the

961 tonnes of food aid mobilised by the WFP to help vulnerable populations in north Togo, including households affected by climatic changes and displaced people due to a security crisis.

Tablet shipments in the Chinese market in Q4, 2022

LIBYA!TUNISIA Cruise Line Launched

A cruise line between Libya and Tunisia was launched on 12 February for the first time in over 11 years.

The launch ceremony of the cruise line was attended by Libyan Minister of Transport Mohamed al-Shuhubi, Tunisian Ambassador to Libya al-As’ad al-Ajli, and a number of senior Libyan officials, the Libyan Ministry of Transport said in a statement.

Efforts will be made in the future to launch cruise lines from Libya to several neighbouring countries, the statement added.

2$6 MILLION

Number of Chinese people aged 60 and over at the end of 2022

2.4 MILLION HECTARES

Addition of national reserve forests in China from 2021 to 2025